# Philippines
Latest news and articles about Philippines
Total: 17 articles found
Condolence and Coercion: China’s Rescue Diplomacy Amid Rising South China Sea Tensions
China’s condolence to the Philippines after a fatal ferry sinking highlights a broader pattern of simultaneous humanitarian outreach and military assertiveness in the South China Sea. Incidents of rescue and reproach reveal deep distrust between Beijing and Manila, with implications for regional stability amid US–China competition.
After Manila Declares No‑Sail Zone at Scarborough, PLA Sends a Stark Message
The Philippines declared a no‑sail zone near Scarborough Shoal, prompting Chinese commentary that the PLA responded with operations intended to ‘‘slap’’ Manila down. The episode highlights the fragile mix of routine maritime measures and high-stakes geopolitics in the South China Sea, with risks of further escalation unless diplomatic de‑escalation follows.
PLA Bomber Patrols Over Huangyan Signal Beijing’s Harder Line Toward Manila
China’s Southern Theater Command dispatched H‑6K bombers and fighters on patrols over Huangyan Island on 31 January, a move Beijing says enforces its jurisdiction and rebukes Philippine attempts to declare nearby exercise areas. The flights reflect a broader strategy of regularized bomber presence and calibrated coercion intended to deter Manila while emphasising Chinese claims of humanitarian assistance and restraint.
Beijing’s Show of Force Over Scarborough: Armed PLA Flights as Manila’s Exercise Zone Escalates Tensions
China staged naval patrols and armed air overflights near Scarborough Shoal after the Philippines included the feature in a declared exercise zone, signalling Beijing’s readiness to defend what it calls sovereign territory. The episode increases the risk of miscalculation and highlights the limits of legal rulings and the growing role of calibrated coercion in the South China Sea.
The Last Witnesses: Philippine ‘Grandmothers’ and the Unfinished Demand for Japan’s Apology
Survivors of Japan’s wartime system of sexual slavery in the Philippines — known locally as “grandmothers” — are dwindling, yet their demand for a formal apology and compensation persists. Activists warn that unresolved accountability, historical revisionism and geopolitical pragmatism risk allowing the memory of these crimes to be erased for younger generations.
China Flies H-6K Bombers over Scarborough Shoal in Direct Rebuke to Philippine 'Exercise Zone'
China’s Southern Theater Command conducted sea-air combat-readiness patrols over Huangyan Dao (Scarborough Shoal) on 31 January, publishing routes that included H-6K bombers and fighters. Beijing framed the flights as both a rejection of Philippine-declared exercise zones and a demonstration of de facto control, raising the stakes in a long-running dispute with Manila.
China and Philippines Hold Quiet Sea Talks in Cebu, Pledging Continued Diplomatic Channels
Senior Chinese and Philippine diplomats met in Cebu on January 29, 2026 to discuss maritime and other shared issues, agreeing to maintain diplomatic communications. The talks reflect a mutual interest in managing tensions in the South China Sea, though no specific agreements were announced.
Tokyo Signs Logistics Pact with Manila, Deepening Military Ties and Raising Tensions over China
Japan and the Philippines signed an Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement that will let their forces exchange supplies duty-free during joint operations, accompanied by Japanese security aid and coastal radar deliveries. Tokyo presents the pact as disaster-response and interoperability cooperation, but it also deepens military ties that could strengthen deterrence against China and raise regional tensions.
Deadly Ferry Sinking Exposes Chronic Safety Failures in the Philippines
A passenger ferry sank off Basilan on 26 January, leaving at least 18 dead, 24 missing and more than 300 rescued. The accident highlights persistent maritime safety failures in the Philippines — from poor maintenance and rough seas to inadequate enforcement and limited rescue capacity — and will likely spur calls for regulatory and operational reforms.
Another Philippine Ferry Sinks, Laying Bare Long‑standing Maritime Safety Failures
A passenger cargo ferry sank off southern Philippines on 26 January, with at least 317 rescued, 18 confirmed dead and dozens missing. The disaster highlights chronic maritime safety shortcomings—poor maintenance, severe weather, and weak enforcement—that regularly imperil travel between the country’s islands.
China Coast Guard Rescues Filipino Sailors Near Disputed Shoal, Underscoring Humanitarian Cooperation Amid Tension
Chinese coast guard vessels rescued 17 sailors after a cargo ship capsized near Huangyan Island; two died and four remain missing. Filipino survivors publicly thanked Chinese rescuers, and a formal handover to the Philippine coast guard took place on January 25, an episode that temporarily eases tensions in a disputed maritime area while carrying broader strategic implications.
Passenger Vessel Capsizes off Davao: 15 Dead, Dozens Missing as China’s Embassy Seeks Information
A passenger boat capsized off Davao in the Philippines on January 26, killing 15 and leaving 43 missing while more than 300 people were rescued. China’s embassy is coordinating with its Davao consulate but has not confirmed the nationalities of those involved as Philippine authorities continue search-and-rescue operations.